Simple Equipment Research Articles

Modulated Light Elicitation and Associated Physiological and Molecular Processes in Phenolic Compounds Production in Ocimum basilicum L. Microgreens

Microgreens represent a valuable source of health-promoting compounds and also a research avenue, since such organisms have a very high plasticity related to environmental cues, allowing biotechnological development with low costs. Ocimum basilicum L. species naturally synthesize valuable, phenolic compounds, among which rosmarinic acid is most prominent. Within the current research, basil plantlets were grown for 10 days under either full spectrum light (white light) or modulated blue/red/far-red/UV spectrum elicitation with an additional factorization, by applying fertilization. Biomass accumulation reached up to 0.8 g/20 plantlets, while chlorophyll fluorescence was in the 0.75–0.78 range and remained uniform across treatments, indicating that no significant stress was exerted under modified light treatment. However, total phenolic contents and, in particular, rosmarinic acid contents, were markedly enhanced (up to 7.5 mg/g in the red cultivar) under modulated light treatment and fertilization, compared to full spectrum light. Moreover, in the red cultivar, gene expression was enhanced, 1.3–6.3 fold for genes coding for enzymes involved in phenylpropanoid synthesis pathways, such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and rosmarinic acid synthetase (RAS). Overall, light modulation coupled with fertilization led to the production of basil microgreens with up to 10% more total phenolics and up to 25% more rosmarinic acid. The results show that, using relatively simple growth equipment and setup, synthesis of health related, valuable compounds can be modulated in microgreens and, hence, serves as an avenue for businesses to develop cost effective biotechnological processes.

Optimizing Process Parameters for ASTM A36 Steel Welding with a Locally Manufactured Arc Welding Machine

In many different industries, welding is a common joining technique. However, due to a lack of finance, tiny fabrication businesses in Nigeria frequently use simple manual arc welding equipment. Although these systems enable necessary joining activities, their erratic performance over time degrades output and quality. Welds are unreliable and may need to be redone if the process parameters are not systematically understood. This also restricts the thickness of materials that may be employed. Through experiment design, this study sought to optimize the characteristics of a manually operated shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) machine. Current, voltage, electrode diameter, and travel speed were found to be important adjustable parameters. To examine how changes in these variables affect the results of weld quality, an experimental design was created. The manual SMAW machine's ideal parameters were determined to be 46.498 amps of current, 28.662 volts of voltage, 2.920 mm of electrode diameter, and 100 mm/min of travel speed. The anticipated tensile shear strength at these levels was 502.362 MPa, the micro hardness was 437.736 kgf/mm2, and the weld bead width was 6.124 mm. When compared to the machine's initial capabilities, performance under optimal conditions demonstrated increases in productivity, dependability, and defect reduction. To assist Nigeria's industrialization objectives, local technical skills can be sustainably developed through the methodical improvement of current resources.

Investigation of Surface Hardness and Microstructural Changes in S45C Carbon Steel Cylinders Through Arc Quenching

Arc quenching has many advantages, including generating large amounts of heat in a short time, a self-quenching ability, and simple equipment. The electric arc energy from a TIG welding machine was used to modify the surface properties of S45C Carbon Steel Cylinders. The study focuses on the impact of arc length, current intensity, travel speed, gas flow rate, heating angle, and pulse on surface hardness after arc quenching an S45C steel tube with a cylinder surface. The study found that the hardness reduces from 45.1 HRC to 41.2 HRC as the current intensity increases from 125 A to 140 A. According to Taguchi’s results, the ranking of factors which have the greatest impact on surface hardness are pulse time, travel speed, intensity, gas flow rate, arc length, and heating angle. The pulse time has the highest impact because it directly influences the heating input, followed by the travel speed. Arc length and heating angle, on the other hand, have the least effect. The base metal, heat-affected area, and hardened area are the three distinct areas that make up the microstructure structure. After the arc quenching process, the case hardening depth is represented by the heat-affected zone at 1536 μm. A highly colored residual austenite and a needle-shaped martensite phase make up the hardened region. The hardened region is 1200 μm thick and has a hardness of more than 300 HV0.3. The study’s findings may improve the application and understanding of the arc quenching treatment procedure in the industrial sector.

Detecting N-Phenyl-2-Naphthylamine, L-Arabinose, D-Mannose, L-Phenylalanine, L-Methionine, and D-Trehalose via Photocurrent Measurement.

The concentration of small molecules reflects the normality of physiological processes in the human body, making the development of simple and efficient detection equipment essential. In this work, inspired by a facile strategy in point-of-care detection, two devices were fabricated to detect small molecules via photocurrent measurement. A linear response of the photocurrent against the concentration of the small molecules was found. In the first device, metal ions were introduced into gel substrates made by xanthan gum to enhance photocurrent response. N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine was measured when iron or manganese ions were used. L-Phenylalanine was measured when the gel was modified by samarium, iron, cerium, or ytterbium ions. L-(+)-Arabinose was detected via the gels modified by iron or holmium ions. D-(+)-Mannose was detected when the gel was modified by ytterbium, manganese, chromium, or sodium ions. L-Methionine was detected in the gels modified by samarium, zinc, or chromium ions. The second device was based on a paper sheet. A sugar-like molecule was first synthesized, which was then used to modify the paper. The detection was possible since the photocurrent showed a linear trend against the concentration of D-Trehalose. A linear fit was conducted to derive the sensitivity, whose value was found to be 5542.4. This work offers a novel, simple, and environmentally sustainable platform that is potentially useful in remote areas lacking medical devices.

PENINGKATAN KESADARAN HUKUM MASYARAKAT TERHADAP PENTINGNYA LINGKUNGAN HIDUP YANG BAIK DAN SEHAT DI RT 01/RW 01 KELURAHAN ALAK KECAMATAN ALAK KOTA KUPANG

Although there are a number of regulations that regulate and guarantee human rights to a good and healthy environment, in reality there are still those who live in unhealthy environments such as those experienced by scavengers who live temporarily in tents set up along the Final Processing Site (TPA) and the community living in the RT 01/RW 01 area of ​​Alak Village, Alak District, Kupang City. In carrying out their activities, the community and scavengers wear simple equipment, such as hats, glasses and used shoes and head coverings to avoid heat and dust. Only a few still care about wearing masks and face coverings when carrying out scavenging and managing waste. The results obtained by the community and scavengers are certainly not comparable to the risks or negative impacts that can be caused to health. This activity is motivated by several problems, namely the lack of knowledge and understanding of partners or target communities regarding regulations in the field of environment and health, the lack of knowledge and understanding of partners regarding the negative impacts that can be caused. Therefore, this community service activity aims to provide knowledge and understanding to partners regarding regulations in the field of environment and health, provide knowledge and understanding to partners regarding the negative impacts that can be caused to health. The implementation method consists of observation and problem identification activities, counseling activities, and evaluation. Through counseling activities, partners gain knowledge and understanding of the importance of a good and healthy environment. Furthermore, based on the evaluation results, it is known that this community service activity is running well and satisfactorily, namely by increasing legal awareness for partners

Fused filament fabrication of polyetheretherketone in vacuum: the influence of high vacuum on layer adhesion in z-orientation

AbstractThe application of fused filament fabrication (FFF) in vacuum changes the heat transfer of the process. This work investigates the influence of the working ambient pressure conditions in FFF-based 3D printing of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) specimens, and its impact on the resulting part strength. Layer adhesion drastically improves with decreasing pressure, maximum layer adhesion is reached for ambient pressure below $$10^{-3}$$ 10 - 3 mbar. We show that simple and low-cost vacuum equipment is sufficient to achieve such pressure conditions, making this process interesting for the general processing of high-temperature polymers using FFF.

ANÁLISE DA QUALIDADE DE LEITE EM TANQUES DE ORDENHA MECÂNICA, DE ORDENHA MANUAL E TANQUES COMUNITÁRIOS

This study aims to analyze bacterial contamination in milk produced by three different milking systems: manual, mechanical, and community tanks. The research involved collecting milk samples from rural properties in Presidente Médici, focusing on the count of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria. The analysis of results showed that the manual milking system had the highest contamination levels due to greater manipulation and the use of simple equipment. On the other hand, the mechanical milking system exhibited an intermediate level of contamination, while community tanks, which generally face challenges regarding hygiene and management, surprisingly showed lower contamination levels than expected. These findings indicate that proper hygiene and management practices are essential to ensure milk quality, regardless of the milking system used. The study emphasizes the importance of training producers and investing in infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of Brazilian milk in both the domestic and international markets.

Development Prospects of Smoked Fish Business in Sinjai District, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

This research analyses the characteristics of smoked fish business and determines the appropriate development strategy for the business in the coastal areas of Sinjai District. Using qualitative and descriptive designs. Sampling was conducted in North Sinjai and East Sinjai Districts of Sinjai Regency from July to August 2024. The data analysis technique uses qualitative descriptive analysis and SWOT analysis to systematically identify various internal and external factors and formulate MSME development strategies. The results of the research show that (1) Characteristics of smoked fish processing MSMEs in Sinjai Regency, including: Business actors aged 33-70 with a dominant education level of elementary school, and having business experience of more than 10 years; the product produced has a distinctive taste, smoked fish in whole and fillet form, uses wood as fuel, simple equipment, marketing is still on a local scale, with varying product prices; MSMEs do not yet have business legality. (2) Appropriate strategies to use in developing smoked fish processing businesses in Sinjai Regency include: developing smoked fish MSMEs with training and counseling programs from related agencies, establishing collaborative partnerships between MSME actors in promoting products and implementing processing technology innovations by updating infrastructure and attend training.

PENDAMPINGAN PENGUATAN MANAJEMEN USAHA TERNAK AYAM BROILER PADA KELOMPOK TERNAK DI KELURAHAN KASTELA KECAMATAN PULAU TERNATE

ABSTRACTBroiler chicken cultivation is a potential business and is widely carried out by the community. A group of broiler chicken breeders with the name Makmur Jaya group located in Kastela Village, Ternate City, North Maluku, was formed because of the desire to work together for one goal, namely improving the welfare of its members. However, in the course of business development by the broiler chicken farming group, there were several problems, including a lack of knowledge and skills in raising chickens; livestock management has not been managed well; partner businesses are still traditional; and still use simple equipment in raising chickens. This activity was attended by members of the Makmur Jaya broiler chicken farming group and students of the Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Khairun University. Methods for implementing activities include socialization and FGD, training and mentoring. The aim of this activity is to provide knowledge to the public regarding good feed management in household-scale broiler chicken cultivation. Participants were very enthusiastic about the discussion, especially regarding the maintenance and health management of broiler chickens as well as training in broiler chicken cultivation with direct practice when the new DOC arrived at the service location.Keywords: Broiler chickens; Management; Mentoring; Livestock businessABSTRAKBroiler chicken cultivation is a potential business and is widely carried out by the community. A group of broiler chicken breeders with the name Makmur Jaya group located in Kastela Village, Ternate City, North Maluku, was formed because of the desire to work together for one goal, namely improving the welfare of its members. However, in the course of business development by the broiler chicken farming group, there were several problems, including a lack of knowledge and skills in raising chickens; livestock management has not been managed well; partner businesses are still traditional; and still use simple equipment in raising chickens. This activity was attended by members of the Makmur Jaya broiler chicken farming group and students of the Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Khairun University. Methods for implementing activities include socialization and FGD, training and mentoring. The aim of this activity is to provide knowledge to the public regarding good feed management in household-scale broiler chicken cultivation. Participants were very enthusiastic about the discussion, especially regarding the maintenance and health management of broiler chickens as well as training in broiler chicken cultivation with direct practice when the new DOC arrived at the service location..Kata Kunci: Ayam broiler; Manajemen; Pendampingan; Usahaternak

Liquid-phase deposition of [formula omitted] heterojunction thin film photoanode for water splitting

The Liquid-phase deposition (LPD) method stands out as one of the most cost-effective techniques for fabricating thin films, due to its simple equipment requirements, low operational costs, and easy scalability while maintaining excellent film quality. In this work, we successfully demonstrate for the first time the synthesis of a heterojunction thin-film photoanode of hematite (α-Fe2O3) on an n-type silicon (n-Si) substrate using LPD. The α-Fe2O3/n-Si heterojunction photoanodes fabricated by LPD exhibited superior photocurrent responses for water splitting, with greater light absorption and enhanced performance compared to photoanodes prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates, indicating the high quality of the heterojunction interface. The LPD-fabricated heterojunctions showed an early onset of photocurrent at lower applied potentials compared to Pt-based metal electrodes, demonstrating a reduction in overpotential voltage of 0.3 V. Overall, the LPD method shows promising potential for fabricating high-quality α-Fe2O3/n-Si thin films, with potential applications toward unassisted water splitting, offering an efficient and sustainable approach for green hydrogen production.

Socio-economic Dimensions of Forest Honey (Bees dorsata) Business Development in Hiay Wetar Village, Southwest Maluku

This research aims to 1) Understand the socio-economic characteristics of the community in developing the forest honey business - Apis dorsata bees. 2) Analyze the level of income from the forest honey business - Apis dorsata bees by the community in Hiay-Wetar village, Southwest Maluku. The research was conducted in Hiay Wetar village, Southwest Maluku in January-February 2024 using a purposive sampling method with 25 families as respondents. Primary and secondary data were taken through direct observation and interviews with respondents. The data obtained were analyzed using a quantitative and descriptive qualitative approach. The research results show that the social characteristics of the community greatly influence the respondents' activities in collecting/harvesting forest honey, namely age, education level, experience in collecting forest honey, number of family dependents, and income. Collecting honey bee hives starts with marking the tree, harvesting and packaging the honey is still done using simple production equipment and traditional techniques based on local knowledge and wisdom from generation to generation. The collection of forest honey by the people of Hiay Wetar village is called "cut wani "which means cut honey" and air wani which means honey bee water. In a year there are two honey harvests (cut wani), namely in April – June and October – December with a total production of 1500 liters per year and total sales of IDR 180,000,000/year. Net income of IDR 169,915,000.00 and R/C return ratio analysis of the honey business has a decent ratio with flat R/C = IDR 18.03. Keywords: economy, Apis dorsata bees, income, social, forest honey

Hygiene dan Sanitasi Desa Wisata: Peningkatan Kualitas Air Sumur Melalui Media Filterisasi, Pangkajene dan Kepulauan

Poor well water quality is a problem often faced by rural communities in Indonesia. This community service activity aims to improve the quality of well water in Taraweang Village through the use of simple filtering equipment. Through training and demonstrations, the community of Taraweang Village managed to improve their understanding and skills in managing well water using filtering technology. The results of this activity showed a significant improvement in well water quality, including a decrease in iron, manganese and bacteria levels in the water. The success of this program opens up opportunities for replication in other villages experiencing similar problems, with a note that continuous monitoring and support are needed to ensure the sustainability of the use of this technology

Sedimentary relations: cultures of access and the matter of shallow seabed coring

Contemporary cultural geographies have increasingly addressed subterranean and deep spaces through questions of access to earthly materials and the politics of resource extraction. This article engages with these themes through an investigation into the ‘doings’ or practices of seabed access. It does so by following the embodied and material experiences of two human geographers, an artist, a scientific coordinator and a microbiologist, who together undertook a day trip to learn shallow sediment coring in the Wadden Sea mudflats of Northern Germany. Stemming from a research project concerned with the accessibility of the seabed in international waters (how society can access its ‘common heritage’), we examine how taking samples from even the most accessible type of seabed – a shallow coastal mudflat within national waters that is not covered by seawater during low tide – presents a myriad of considerations, challenges and complications. We argue these are vital in examining the cultures of access – the embodied and material limits that define and shape participation in environments in which you and I have rights. These considerations, challenges and complications ranged from physical strength and balance requirements to an understanding of tidal movements, access to simple but specific equipment, appropriate clothing and private transport. We use ethnographic reflections and our photographic engagements to consider sedimentary relations: how we can and do relate to the seabed.

Unsteady flow analysis in a pump as turbine impeller based on proper orthogonal decomposition and dynamic mode decomposition methods

Pump as turbine (PAT) is an efficient, simple, and cost-effective equipment combining pump and turbine and is one of the excellent energy recovery devices. It is helpful to master the flow characteristics of the key component impeller for the further optimization and design of the PAT. To analyze the unsteady flow features in the impeller of a double-suction pump operating as a turbine, numerical simulations were conducted using the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model at the designed operating conditions. By utilizing proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) methods on the unsteady velocity field of a single cycle, the dominant modes up to the fourth order, along with their respective space–time information, can be extracted. The velocity field and vorticity field analysis were performed on the first four modes extracted using two different methods. Additionally, the vortex structures were extracted using the Ω method. The analysis demonstrates that the POD and DMD methods effectively decompose the intricate flow characteristics within the impeller into dynamic–static interference modes, fundamental modes, and dissipative modes. The dynamic–static interference mode is dominant, reflecting the flow characteristics influenced by the stationary components within the impeller. The vortex structure is mainly small tubular vortex and point vortex. The fundamental mode captures the steady flow field characteristics caused by the blade channel geometry. The vortex structure is mainly continuous tubular vortex and the diameter becomes larger. The dissipative mode reflects the flow separation generated on the blades by disturbances from the stationary components. The vortex structure is dominated by point vortex and discontinuous tubular vortex. Comparing the outcomes of the two modal analysis methods shows that the POD method has a distinct advantage in showcasing key changing nodes. In contrast, the DMD method is superior in isolating modes with a single frequency and in determining their stability.

Total Least Squares In-Field Identification for MEMS-Based Inertial Measurement Units

Inertial Measurement Units are widely used in various applications and, hardware-wise, they primarily consist of a tri-axial accelerometer and a tri-axial gyroscope. For low-end commercial employments, the low cost of the device is crucial: this makes MEMS-based sensors a popular choice in this context. However, MEMS-based transducers are prone to significant, non-uniform and environmental-condition-dependent systematic errors, that require frequent re-calibration to be eliminated. To this end, identification methods that can be performed in-field by non-expert users, without the need for high-precision or costly equipment, are of particular interest. In this paper, we propose an in-field identification procedure based on the Total Least Squares method for both tri-axial accelerometers and gyroscopes. The proposed identification model is linear and requires no prior knowledge of the parameters to be identified. It enables accelerometer calibration without the need for specific reference surface orientation relative to Earth’s gravity and allows gyroscope calibration to be performed independently of accelerometer data, without requiring the sensor’s sensitive axes to be aligned with the rotation axes during calibration. Experiments conducted on NXP sensors FXOS8700CQ and FXAS21002 demonstrated that using parameters identified by our method reduced cross-validation standard deviations by about two orders of magnitude compared to those obtained using manufacturer-provided parameters. This result indicates that our method enables the effective calibration of IMU sensor parameters, relying only on simple 3D-printed equipment and significantly improving IMU performance at minimal cost.

Low oxygen saturation and discordant arterial blood gas measures have diagnosed a case of hemoglobinopathy

Pulse oximeter is a simple non-invasive equipment used to determine patient’s arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). However, in some people, arterial blood gas measures (SaO2) are normal and low SpO2 values are related to hemoglobin variant rather than cardiac or pulmonary illnesses. Aim. We present a case of thalassemia that manifested with low SpO2 and discordant SaO2. Conclusion. When examining a patient with an unusually low SpO2, the differential diagnosis of a suspected hemoglobin variant should be investigated. Establishing an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible may help avoid unnecessary tests.

A Simulation Study on the Effect of Filament Spacing on the Temperature Field Uniformity of an HFCVD System

Hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) has become the most widely used ways of preparing diamond film-coated tools due to the simple equipment used, its convenient operation, and its low cost. In the production process of an actual factory, a large number of coated tools need to be prepared in batches. Factors such as the hot-filament arrangement often affect the uniformity of coating on tools, making the performance of the tools prepared in the same batch unstable. This article uses ANSYS R15.0 software software in the context of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to calculate the temperature field in the HFCVD system, and study the effect of filament spacing on the uniformity of the temperature field of the surface of the substrate. It was found that when the distance between filaments was 14 mm, 10 mm, 10 mm, 8 mm, 8 mm, the temperature field on the surface of the substrate was the most uniform. The experiments are consistent with the results of the simulation, indicating that simulation research has practical significance.

CE-MS and CE-MS/MS for the multiattribute analysis of monoclonal antibody variants at the subunit level

The analysis of product-related substances and impurities is a critical step in the biopharmaceutical quality control of multiattribute monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as posttranslational modifications or other variants can influence the product's biological activity. Many approaches are available for variant analysis; however, they are either variant-specific, mAb-specific, time-consuming, or require expensive equipment. Here, we present a generic capillary electrophoretic method based on a neutral-coated capillary which was coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) via the nanoCEasy interface for mAb variant analysis at the subunit level (enzymatically digested and reduced mAb). The method enabled the separation of several (i) size variants (e.g. glycosylation variants) and (ii) charge variants (e.g. c-terminal lysin clipping) as well as (iii) multiple other proteoforms (e.g. additional glycation) and (iv) incompletely reduced subunits. Separated variants were confirmed by MS/MS fragmentation even for small mass deviations like deamidation or open disulfide bridges. The system, initially developed for one mAb, was tested with nine other IgG1s to show the general applicability of the system. The presented multiattribute method enables fast and detailed characterization of mAb variants with little sample preparation and relatively simple separation equipment enabling the separation of a large set of mAb variants.

Controlled Ice Nucleation With a Sand-PDMS Film Device Enhances Cryopreservation of Mouse Preantral Ovarian Follicles.

Ovarian follicle cryopreservation is a promising strategy for fertility preservation; however, cryopreservation protocols have room for improvement to maximize post-thaw follicle viability and quality. Current slow-freezing protocols use either manual ice-seeding in combination with expensive programmable-rate freezers or other clinically incompatible ice initiators to control the ice-seeding temperature in the extracellular solution, a critical parameter that impacts post-cryopreservation cell/tissue quality. Previously, sand has been shown to be an excellent, biocompatible ice initiator, and its use in cryopreservation of human induced pluripotent stem cells enables high cell viability and quality after cryopreservation. This study applies sand as an ice initiator to cryopreserve multicellular microtissue, preantral ovarian follicles, using a simple slow-freezing protocol in the mouse model. Ovarian follicles cryopreserved using the sand partially embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film to seed ice in the extracellular solution exhibit healthy morphology, high viability, and the ability to grow similarly to fresh follicles in culture post-thaw. This sand-based cryopreservation strategy can facilitate convenient ovarian follicle cryopreservation using simple equipment, and this study further demonstrates the translatability of this strategy to not only single cells but also multicellular tissues.

Penerapan teknologi tepat guna pada proses produksi U-Neulheu Kelompok Masyarakat Aceh Besar [Implementation of appropriate technology in U-Neulheu Production by Community Group of Aceh Besar

U-Neulheu, a traditional Acehnese cooking spice made from roasted grated coconut, is typically produced using simple and limited equipment, leading to an inefficient production process. As a result, both the quality and quantity of the final product are often suboptimal. The integration of technology into the production process remains far from ideal. The aim of this community service activity aims to enhance the quantity and quality of U-Neulheu produced by local partners through the implementation of Appropriate Technology, such as a roasted coconut grinder and dryer. These improvements are expected to increase the partner's income level and living standards. The partners involved in this activity are a group of housewives who produce U-Neulheu in Cot Preh Village, Kuta Baro Sub-District, Aceh Besar District. The methods of this community service activity include counseling, the implementation of technology in the form of a roasted coconut grinder and dryer, as well as technical guidance. The results of the activity show that the partners greatly benefited from the application of this Appropriate Technology. The use of the roasted coconut grinder and dryer in the U-Neulheu production process made it more effective and efficient in terms of both time and cost. In addition, the quantity and quality of U-Neulheu products have also increased. The quantity increase is measurable by the higher number of products produced (50%), while the quality improvement is evident in the smoother and more hygienic products.